In the early morning hours of July 28, 2017 the U.S. Senate voted 51-49 against the skinny repeal of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as the latest version of Trumpcare.

Statement by Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority, on the temporary defeat of Trumpcare in the U.S. Senate:

“This is an important and exciting day for everyone who has fought for the last six months, and the last seven years, to increase healthcare access to millions of people and defend the backbone of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid and private health insurance coverage to millions of people—the majority of whom are women—who were previously uninsured, banned sex discrimination in pricing and benefits, and finally guaranteed women access to the essential healthcare services they rely on, like maternity care, birth control without co-pays or deductibles, and cancer screenings.

The Feminist Majority wants to extend a genuine thanks to all the Senate Democrats and Independents who have fought the repeal of the ACA and the decimation of Medicaid from the beginning, as well as Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski for listening to their constituents and voting against a bill that would have devastated healthcare in both the communities they represent and the entire country. These two leaders once again show that women, though under represented, have courage and make a difference in office. And thank you to Republican Senator John McCain for recognizing that backdoor deal making undermines the democratic process and does not lead to sustainable solutions.

None of this would have been possible without all of the feminist activists and constituents who organized, rallied, protested, marched, emailed, called and showed up for the fight. We demanded that our voices be heard, and it worked.

The ability to access affordable and comprehensive healthcare is a right that every person in America deserves. Today, we are one step closer to affirming that, but the struggle goes on, and we must remain vigilant and determined to increase access to healthcare for all.”